Hair Curling Device

ABSTRACT

A hair curling device includes an elongated heating member, a handle member, a powering arrangement including a motorized unit supported in said handle member, and a clamping arm pivotally moved between an opened position that the clamping arm is tilted from the heating member and a closed position that the clamping arm is in contact with a heating surface of the heating member. The clamping arm is driven to rotate around an axis of the heating member by the motorized unit, such that after the clamping arm is moved at the closed position for retaining a lock of hair between the clamping arm and the heating surface of the heating member, the clamping arm is automatically rotated for guiding the lock of hair being whirled around the heating member.

CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION

This is a Continuation-In-Part application that claims the benefit ofpriority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to a non-provisional application,application Ser. No. 13/573,489, filed Sep. 17, 2012 and anothernon-provisional application, application Ser. No. 13/781,595, filed Feb.28, 2013.

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to any reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as itappears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patent files orrecords, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a hair setter, and more particular to ahair curling device, wherein the clamping arm is automatically rotatedto wind up the hair of the user around the heating member for curlingthe hair thereof. The user is able to drive the clamping arm to rotate360° around the heating member via one hand operation in order to windup the hair of the user around the heating member in a tight and neatmanner, such that the user is able easily curl her hair easily in a “doit yourself” manner. In addition, the clamping arm can be manuallydriven manually or can be automatically driven by an electric motor intwo reversible directions.

2. Description of Related Arts

A traditional hair curling device comprises a heating barrel coaxiallyextended from an elongated handle, wherein the user must whirl the hairsaround the heating barrel by the rotational movement of the handle. Heatis applied at the external surface of the heating barrel to thermallycontact with the hairs of the user so as to curl the hairs of the user.However, the traditional hair curling device has several drawbacks. Theentire handle must be rotated by the holding hand of the user in orderto rotate the heating barrel. It is not ergonomical that the user isdifficult to hold the handle tight and to rotate the handle at the sametime, especially when the hair curling device is connected to the powersource with an electric cable. When mishandling the handle, the haircurling device may be accidentally dropped on the floor or even burnsthe head skin of the user. In addition, it is difficult for the user tocontrol the desired tightness of the hairs when whirling the hairsaround the heating barrel.

An improved hair curling device further comprises a clamp assembly forgrasping a lock of hair at the heating barrel, such as US Pub. No.2012/0145180. FIG. 5 shows a conventional hair curling device with theclamp assembly which comprises a ring 1 freely and concentricallyrotated at the handle 2 and a clamp 3 pivotally coupled at the ring 1.The clamp 3 can be pivotally moved at an opened position that the clamp3 is tilted with respect to the heating barrel 4 and can be pivotallymoved at a closed position that the clamp 3 is in contact with theheating barrel 4. Therefore, after the clamp 3 is pivotally moved tograsp a lock of hair between the heating barrel 4 and the clamp 3, thering 1 is rotated to drive the clamp 3 to rotate in order to wind thehair in a curly shape. In particular, the lock of hair, especially theportion close to the root of the hair, is initially grasped by the clamp3. During the rotation, the lock of hair is grasped and wound toward theend of the hair. However, when the lock of hair is wound around theheating barrel 4, the lock of hair will pull the heating barrel 4 to thehead skin of the user which may accidentally hurt the skin of the user.

Accordingly, there are two types of the clamp for the conventional haircurling device.

The first one is that the clamp is coupled at the heating barrel and isnon-rotatable. During the operation of the hair curling device, theclamp must be pivotally moved at the opened position in order to grasp alock of hair between the heating barrel and the clamp. Then, the user isable to wind the lock of hair around the heating barrel with the clampthrough a two-hand operation. Alternatively, the user is able to rotatethe entire hair curling device to wind the lock of hair around theheating barrel with the clamp. The drawbacks of the conventional haircurling device are that the operation thereof requires two-handoperation such that the user will feel troublesome and tired to curl herhairs. During the winding operation, the lock of hair cannot be evenlyand neatly wound around the heating barrel, such that some hair at thelock may not be wound around the heating barrel. As a result, it isdifficult for the user to control the desired tightness of the hairswhen whirling the hairs around the heating barrel. Furthermore, when thelock of hair is retained between the clamp and the heating barrel, aclearance is formed therebetween. In other words, when the heatingbarrel is heated up, the heat thereat will not be evenly applied to thelock of hair through the clearance in order to curl the hair at adesired design.

The second type is that the clamp can be rotate around the heatingbarrel, wherein a tubular metal frame is extended from the handle to theheating barrel. Therefore, the heat generated from the heating barrelwill transmit to the handle through the metal frame, which may burn theuser's skin. In addition, the metal frame will substantially increasethe overall weight of the hair curling device. The user may feel tiredto hold the hair curling device after a period of continuous use.

Furthermore, since the diameter size of the heating barrel is relativelysmall, the temperature sensor must be located at the handle and iselectrically connected to the heating barrel via an electric wire.Accordingly, the electric wire is retained at the handle via a screw. Inother words, when the heat is transmitted to the handle, the screw willalso be heated up to damage the electric wire, which may cause a shortcircuit or even an electric shock. Therefore, such configuration isunsafe for the user.

However, the improved hair curling device also has several drawbacks.The clamp 3 is rotated around the longitudinal axis of the handle 2 byrotating the ring 1 between the thumb and index finger of the holdinghand of the user. In other words, the handle 2 will be held only bythree fingers of the holding hand. Therefore, it is not ergonomical thatthe user is difficult to hold the handle 2 tight and to rotate the ring1 at the same time by one hand. In addition, during the rotation of thering 1, the clamp 3 is revolved around the heating barrel 4 in order towind the lock of hair around the heating barrel 4. The lock of hair,especially for long hair, may be accidentally stuck at the clamp base 5of the clamp 3 where the pivot joint is located. In other words, thehairs will be pulled, burnt, and/or broken by the rotation of the ring 1once the hairs are stuck at the clamp base 5. Or, the heating time willbe prolonged because it will take longer time for the user to remove thehairs being stuck at the clamp base 5. Furthermore, the tightness of thehairs at the heating barrel 4 cannot be controlled by merely rotatingthe ring 1 by thumb and index finger of the user's holding hand. Inother words, the rotational speed of the ring 1 cannot be controlledprecisely. It is worth mentioning that the curliness of the hair can becontrolled not only by the heating temperature of the heating barrel 4but also by the heating time of the heating barrel 4. The heating timeis the time the hair being stayed around the heating barrel 4. In otherwords, when the rotational speed of the ring 1 is reduced, the heatingtime at the heating barrel 4 for the hair will be prolonged. Therefore,it is difficult for the user to rotate the ring 1 at a constantrotational speed for controlling the hairs being stayed around theheating barrel 4.

Another type of hair curling device incorporates with a power assemblyto drive the clamp to rotate. Through the power assembly, the ring canbe driven at a constant rotation speed. As it is mentioned above, formanually operating the hair curling device, the user is able toinitially grasp the lock of hair at the portion close to the root of thehair, such that the user is able to wind the lock of hair around theheating barrel toward the end of the hair. However, for automaticallyoperating the hair curling device through the power assembly, the usermust initially grasp the lock of hair at the portion close to the end ofthe hair, by the clamp 3 such that during the rotation of the ring, thelock of hair is grasped and wound toward the root of the hair, as shownin FIG. 6. It is because when the clamp 3 is powered to rotate aroundthe heating barrel 4, the lock of hair is wound around the heatingbarrel 4 toward the roots of the hairs. Once the lock of hair is wound,an additional rotational movement of the clamp 3 will pull the heatingbarrel 4 to the skin of the user's head. Since the heating temperatureof the heating barrel 4 is set between 250° C. and 450° C., the heatingbarrel 4 will seriously burn the skin of the user's head by accidental.In order to prevent the heating barrel 4 being pulled towards the skinof the user's head, the lock of hair at the portion close to the end ofthe hair must be the initially grasped by the clamp 3 before startrotating the clamp 3.

Another major drawback of the conventional hair curling device is thatthe operation arm is outwardly and radially protruded from the handle 2to pivotally move the clamp 3 between opened position and the closedposition via a coil spring. In order to allow the user to easily actuatethe clamp 3, the operation arm must be protruded long enough for thethumb of the user to reach. However, the operation arm will tangle thelock of hair when the lock of hair is whirled around the heating barrel4. It is worth mentioning that the heating barrel 4 is extremely hotduring operation. Once the lock of hair is tangled with the operationarm or the pivot joint at the clamp base 5, the user must switch off theconventional hair curling device in order to cool down the heatingbarrel 4. However, the lock of hair will be wound around the heatingbarrel 4 and will be overheated during the long cooling period of time.

Furthermore, in order to securely grasp the lock of hair between theclamp 3 and the heating barrel 4, as shown in FIG. 7, the conventionalhair curling device further comprises two frictional elements 6 providedat an outer surface and an inner surface of the clamp 3 respectively.Accordingly, the frictional elements 6 are two rubber made elongatedstrips affixed to the outer and inner surfaces of the clamp 3 such thatwhen the lock of hair is sandwiched between the inner surface of theclamp 3 and the outer surface of the heating barrel 4, the correspondingfrictional element 6 at the inner surface of the clamp 3 will hold thelock of hair in position. As a result, the frictional elements 6 canhelp the clamp 3 to control the desired tightness of the hairs. When thelock of hair is wound around the heating barrel 4, the frictionalelement at the outer surface of the clamp 3 will hold and lock the lockof hair around the heating barrel 4. However, the frictional elements 6will create a clearance between the inner surface of the clamp 3 and theouter surface of the heating barrel 4 and a clearance between the outersurface of the clamp 3 and the wound lock of hair. In other words, theheat from the heating barrel 4 will not be evenly applied at the lock ofhair after it is wound around the heating barrel 4. Therefore, the lockof hair will not be curled in a natural curly shape. In addition, sincethe lock of hair is locked between the clamp 3 and the heating barrel 4via the frictional elements 6, the user must unwind the lock of hair atthe opposite winding direction in order to release the lock of hair fromthe clamp 3.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The invention is advantageous in that it provides a hair curling device,wherein a clamping arm is automatically rotated to wind up the hair ofthe user around the tubular heating member for curling the hair thereof.

In order to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages, the inventionprovides a hair curling device, which can be operated by one hand of theuser and can secure the lock of hair being wound around the heatingmember in a tight and neat manner. The hair curling device can alsominimize the clearance between the clamping arm and the heating member,prevent the heat transmitted to the handle member, and substantiallyreduce the overall weight of the hair curling device. The connectorbetween the handle member and the heating member is made non-metalmaterial and has a relatively large installation space. The inner wallof the handle member is connected to the connector via a plasticfastener to retain the electric wire of the temperature sensor inposition so as to prevent the heat from the heating member beingtransmitted to the electric wire.

Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling device, whereinthe clamping arm is powered by a powering arrangement to rotate at aconstant speed in a controllable manner, such that the tightness of thehairs at the heating barrel and the curliness of the hairs will beeasily controlled by the user.

Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling device, whichcomprises a safety member provided at the extension end of the heatingmember in a non-rotatable manner for preventing the hairs being stuck atthe extension end of the heating member when the heating member isrotated.

Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling device, whereinthe clamping arm is driven to rotate in two opposite directions, i.e.clockwise direction and counter clockwise direction, such that the haircurling device of the present invention can be operated by bothleft-handed user and right-handed user.

Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling device, whereinthe gear unit of the powering arrangement is a concealed and compactgear unit for minimizing the size thereof and for preventing thelubricate being leaked.

Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling device, whereinthe powering arrangement is located in a handle member and is arrangedin a manner that the center of mass of the powering arrangement islocated at the mid-portion of the hair curling device so as to enable tohold the hair curling device stably and securely.

Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling device, whereinthe heating temperature of the heating member is controllable to controlthe curliness of the hairs.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a hair curling devicewhich is an automatic hair curling device and can be operated by onehand of the user to drive the clamping arm being automatically rotated360° about the heating member so as to whirl the lock of hair around theheating member. In particular, when the two-directional-controloperation button is depressed to activate the electric motor, which ispreferably a micro electric motor, the clamping arm can be controlled torotate about the heating member at either clockwise direction or counterclockwise direction, so as to whirl the lock of hair around the heatingmember for curling the hairs.

Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling device, whichdoes not require to alter the original structural design of the haircurling device, so as to minimize the manufacturing cost of the haircurling device incorporating with the powering arrangement.

Another advantage of the invention is to a hair curling device, whereinno expensive or complicated structure is required to employ in thepresent invention in order to achieve the above mentioned objects.Therefore, the present invention successfully provides an economic andefficient solution for providing a powered hair curling device forcurling the hairs.

Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparentfrom the description which follows, and may be realized by means of theinstrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appendedclaims.

According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects andadvantages are attained by a hair curling device which comprises:

an elongated heating member defining an outer heating surface;

a handle member coaxially extended from the heating member;

a powering arrangement which comprises a motorized unit supported in thehandle member for generating a reversible rotational power; and

a clamp unit which comprises a clamping arm pivotally moved between anopened position that the clamping arm is tilted from the heating memberand a closed position that the clamping arm is in contact with theheating surface of the heating member, wherein the clamping arm isdriven to rotate around an axis of the heating member by the motorizedunit, such that after the clamping arm is moved at the closed positionfor retaining a lock of hair between the clamping arm and the heatingsurface of the heating member, the clamping arm is automatically rotatedfor guiding the lock of hair being whirled around the heating member.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the presentinvention comprises a method of curling a lock of hair by a hair curlingdevice, comprising the steps of

(a) retaining a lock of hair between the clamping arm and a heatingsurface of the heating member, wherein the clamping arm is pivotallymoved between an opened position that the clamping arm is tilted fromthe heating member and a closed position that the clamping arm is incontact with the heating surface of the heating member;

(b) activating a motorized unit of the powering arrangement to drive theclamping arm to rotate around an axis of the heating member for guidingthe lock of hair being whirled around the heating member; and

(c) generating heat at the heating surface of the heating member forcurling the lock of hair.

According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects andadvantages are attained by a hair curling device which comprises ahandle member, a heating member, a connector connecting the handlemember with the heating member, and a clamping arm rotatable around theheating member in 360°. The connector is made of plastic (such as PPS)to connect the handle member with the heating member. A rotatable hubunit comprises an upper rotatable hub (made of nylon with 30% offiberglass) and a lower rotatable hub (made of nylon with 30% offiberglass) being coupled at the upper and lower portions of theconnector. An operation button (made of nylon with 30% of fiberglass)and a rotatable clamping arm (made of nylon with 30% of fiberglass) arecoupled at an outer surface of the upper rotatable hub (made of nylonwith 30% of fiberglass) via a button cap (made of nylon with 30% offiberglass) to form a 360° free rotatable clamping unit, such that therotatable clamping arm is rotatable about the heating member.Accordingly, the clamping arm is coupled to the rotatable hub unit viathe operation button and is coupled to the connector via the rotatablehub unit. During the operation of the hair curling device, the PPS madeconnector and the nylon made rotatable clamping unit will substantiallyreduce the heat being transmitted from the heating member to the handlemember. When the clamping arm is rotated about the heating member, theclamping arm will guide and comb the lock of hair to whirl the lock ofhair around the heating member neatly. The hair curling device of thepresent invention further comprises a lock provided at the lowerrotatable hub to selectively lock up the rotatable hub unit with thehandle member. Therefore, when the lock is released, the clamping armcan be freely rotated about the heating member at 360° while the handlemember is held immovably. Or, when the lock is actuated, the clampingarm can be driven to rotate by the rotational movement of the handlemember. In other words, the clamping arm and the handle member arerotated at the same time. Since the clamping arm is coupled at theconnector, the user is able to operate the hair curling device of thepresent invention by one hand to control the curliness of the hairseasily and safely.

Another advantage of the invention is that the hair curling device ofthe present invention can be operated by one hand of the user, whereinthe clamping arm can be tightly contacted with the surface of theheating member to control the tightness of the hairs therearound. Theoverall weight of the hair curling device will be substantially reducedby the non-metal made connector which can also reduce the heat beingtransmitted from the heating member to the handle member for enhancingthe safety of the hair curling device.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the presentinvention comprises a hair curling device, which comprises a poweroperating arrangement provided between the handle member and the heatingmember. The power operating arrangement comprises an electric motor, agear assembly operatively coupled with the electric motor, and arotatable hub unit driven by the electric motor through the gearassembly, wherein a clamping arm is coupled at the rotatable hub.Therefore, when the two-directional-control operation button isdepressed to activate the electric motor, the clamping arm can becontrolled to rotate about the heating member via the rotatable hub ateither clockwise direction or counter clockwise direction, so as towhirl the lock of hair around the heating member for curling the hairs.

Another advantage of the invention is that the hair curling device ofthe present invention, which has a simple structural configuration, canbe operated by one hand of the user, wherein the clamping arm can beautomatically rotated around the heating member at either clockwisedirection or counter clockwise direction by a depression of theoperation button to whirl the lock of hair around the heating member.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from aconsideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description,the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair curling device according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the hair curling deviceaccording to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the hair curlingdevice according to the above preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, illustrating the first and second portions of the lock ofhair.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative mode of the heating barrel of theheating member according to the above preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, illustrating the heating barrel having a conicalshape.

FIG. 5 illustrates a conventional hair curling device.

FIG. 6 illustrates an operation of the conventional hair curling device.

FIG. 7 illustrates the conventional hair curling device with thefrictional elements.

FIG. 8 illustrates an operation of the hair curling device according tothe above preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustratingthe unchanged position of the hair curling device to keep the safetydistance from the head of the user.

FIG. 9 illustrates the shifting position of the lock of hair by the haircurling device according to the above preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates the hair curling device for creating differentcurling hair style according to the above preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 is a front view of a hair curling device according to a secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a left view of the hair curling device according to the abovesecond preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a right view of the hair curling device according to theabove second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the hair curling device according to the abovesecond preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the hair curling device according to theabove second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the hair curling device according tothe above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the hair curling device according tothe above second preferred embodiment of the present invention,illustrating the clamping arm at an opened position.

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the hair curling deviceaccording to the above second preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view of the connector of the hair curling deviceaccording to the above second preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a hair curling device according to athird preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a top view of the hair curling device according to the abovethird preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a front view of the hair curling device according to theabove third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a bottom view of the hair curling device according to theabove third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a sectional view of the hair curling device along a B-B lineaccording to the above third preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 25 is a right view of the hair curling device according to theabove third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a sectional view of the hair curling device along a A-A lineaccording to the above third preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view of the hair curling deviceaccording to the above third preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description is disclosed to enable any person skilled inthe art to make and use the present invention. Preferred embodiments areprovided in the following description only as examples and modificationswill be apparent to those skilled in the art. The general principlesdefined in the following description would be applied to otherembodiments, alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and applicationswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a hair curling deviceaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention isillustrated, wherein the hair curling device comprises an elongatedheating member 10, a handle member 20, a powering arrangement 30, and aclamp unit 40.

The heating member 10 comprises a tubular heating barrel 11 made ofthermal conductive material and a heat generating element 12 disposed inthe heating barrel 11, wherein when the heat generating element 12 isactivated for generating heat, the heat is transmitted to an outerheating surface of the heating barrel 11. The heating member 10 furtherdefines an extension end at the heating barrel 11 and a top end thereof.As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the heating barrel 11 has a cylindrical shapethat a diameter of the top end of the heating barrel 11 equals to adiameter of the extension end thereof, such that the heating barrel 11has a uniform diameter. Alternatively, the heating barrel 11′ can beconfigured to form a conical shape, as shown in FIG. 4, that thediameter of the heating barrel 11′ is gradually reduced from theextension end to the top end. Accordingly, the conical shape of theheating barrel 11′ can also smoothly guide the lock of hair beingwhirled therearound so as to vary the curliness of the lock of hairalong the heating barrel 11′.

The handle member 20 is coaxially extended from the heating member 10,wherein the handle member 20 is a hollow member having a compartmenttherein. In particular, the handle member 20 is coaxially extended fromthe extension end of the heating barrel 11 to form an elongatedstructure. Accordingly, the handle member 20 comprises two handlecasings, i.e. two half-casings, coupled with each other to define thecompartment within the handle casings.

The powering arrangement 30 comprises a motorized unit 31 supported inthe handle member 20 for generating a reversible rotational power. Themotorized unit 31, having an output shaft, is supported in thecompartment of the handle member, wherein the motorized unit 31 isadapted for selectively generating the reversible rotational power atthe output shaft. In other words, the motorized unit 31 controllablygenerates the reversible rotational power at clockwise direction or atcounter clockwise direction.

The clamp unit 40 comprises a clamping arm 41 pivotally moved between anopened position and a closed position. At the opened position, theclamping arm 41 is tilted from the heating member 10 for retaining alock of hair being placed between the clamping arm 41 and the heatingmember 10. At the closed position, the clamping arm 41 is in contactwith the heating surface of the heating member 10 for retaining the lockof hair between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of theheating member 10.

Accordingly, the clamping arm 41 is driven to rotate around an axis ofthe heating member 10 by the motorized unit 31, such that after theclamping arm 41 is moved at the closed position for retaining the lockof hair between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of theheating member 10, the clamping arm 41 is automatically rotated forguiding the lock of hair being whirled around the heating member 10. Inparticular, the lock of hair will be guided to whirl around the clampingarm 41 as well when the clamping arm 41 is rotated around the axis ofthe heating member 10. Preferably, the clamping arm 41 is made ofthermal conductive material, such that the heat at the heating surfaceof the heating member 10 will transmit to the clamping arm 41 forcurling the lock of hair after the lock of hair is whirled around theheating member 10.

The motorized unit 31 is embodied as an electric motor supported withina mid-portion of the handle member 20 to evenly distribute the weight ofthe motorized unit 31 at the handle member 20. The motorized unit 31 isselectively controlled to generate a forward rotational power to drivethe clamping arm 41 to rotate around the heating member 10 at theclockwise direction and to generate a reverse rotational power to drivethe clamping arm 41 to rotate around the heating member 10 at thecounter clockwise direction. Therefore, both right-handed user andleft-handed user can operate the hair curling device of the presentinvention. Likewise, the hair curling device of the present inventioncan curl the hair at different curling directions as well.

According to the preferred embodiment, the powering arrangement 30further comprises a fixation shaft 32 extended from the handle member 20to the heating member 10 and a rotatable casing 33 rotatably andcoaxially coupled at the fixation shaft 32.

The fixation shaft 32 is an elongated member coaxially extended from thehandle member 20 to the extension end of the heating barrel 11. In otherwords, the heating member 10 will not be rotated when the user holds atthe handle member 20.

The rotatable casing 33 is rotatably coupled at the fixation shaft 32 toenclose the fixation shaft 32 therein. In particular, the rotatablecasing 33 is freely rotated about the fixation shaft 32 at 360 degrees.The clamping arm 41 is pivotally coupled at the rotatable casing 33,such that when the rotatable casing 33 is driven to rotate by themotorized unit 31, the clamping arm 41 is rotated around the heatingmember 10. In other words, only the rotatable casing 33 is rotated todrive the clamping arm 41 moving around the heating member 10 while theheating member 10, the handle member 20, and the fixation shaft 32 areimmovable.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the clamp unit 40 further comprises a pivotjoint 42 for pivotally coupling the clamping arm 41 at the rotatablecasing 33. Accordingly, the clamping arm 41, preferably having a taperedshape, defines a free end and a pivot end pivotally coupled at therotatable casing 33 via the pivot joint 42. The tapered end of theclamping arm 41 can easily retain the lock of hair between the clampingarm 41 and the heating barrel 11 initially, so as to enable the lock ofhair being smoothly whirled around the heating barrel 11.

The pivot joint 42 comprises a pivot shaft 421 pivotally coupled thepivot end of the clamping arm 41 at the rotatable casing 33, a clampbutton 422 provided at the rotatable casing 33 for pivotally moving theclamping arm 41 from the closed position to the opened position, and aresilient element 423 supported at the rotatable casing 33 for applyingan urging spring force against the clamp button 422 so as to retain theclamping arm 41 at the closed position. Accordingly, when a pressingforce is applied at the clamp button 422, the clamp button 422 ispivotally depressed via the pivot shaft 421 to pivotally move theclamping arm 41 to the opened position from the closed position. At theopened position of the clamping arm 41, the resilient element 423, whichis embodied as a compression spring, is compressed. When the pressingforce at the clamp button 422 is released, the compressed resilientelement 423 will return back to its original form to pivotally move theclamp button 422 back so as to pivotally move the clamping arm 41 backto the closed position from the opened position.

According to the preferred embodiment, the clamp button 422 has a topflat depression surface 4221 arranged in such a manner that when theflat depression surface 4221 is pressed, the clamping arm 41 ispivotally moved from the closed position to the opened position.

The clamp unit 40 further has a button cavity 401 indently provided atthe rotatable casing 33 to support the clamp button 422 being alignedwith the axis of the heating member 10, wherein the resilient element423 is supported at the button cavity 401 for applying an urging springforce against the clamp button 422 so as to retain the clamping arm 41at the closed position. In other words, the clamp button 422 is anelongated button laid at the rotatable casing 33 along the axis of theheating member 10. Therefore, the lock of hair will not be accidentallytangled with the clamp button 422.

Accordingly, the pivot shaft 421 is formed at the clamp button 422 andis coupled at two sidewalls of the button cavity 401 such that the clampbutton 422 can be pivotally moved at the button cavity 401. With respectto the pivot shaft 421, the clamp button 422 is defined to have a frontbutton portion coupled with a rear end of the clamping arm 41 and a rearbutton portion being biased against the resilient element 423, whereinthe flat depression surface 4221 is formed at the top side of the frontand rear button portions of the clamp button 422. When the rear buttonportion of the clamp button 422 is depressed, the front button portionthereof is pivotally lifted up to move the clamping arm 41 from theclosed position to the opened position. The resilient element 423 is acompression spring having a bottom end biased against the bottom wall ofthe button cavity 401 and a top end biased against the rear buttonportion of the clamp button 422. It is worth mentioning that no coilspring is used as the resilient element 423 because the coil springrequires relatively larger installation space at the button cavity 401.The compression spring is used in the present invention in order tominimize the installation space at the button cavity 401.

As shown in FIG. 2, the clamping arm 41 comprises an elongated clampingpanel 411 contacting with the heating surface of the heating member 10and a connecting arm 412 rearwardly and parallelly extended from anupper side of the clamping panel 411 to couple with the front buttonportion of the clamp button 422. The inner surface of the clamping panel411 is a smooth surface to contact with the heating surface of theheating member 10.

The clamping panel 411 of the clamping arm 41 has a tapered shapedefining two slanted guiding edges 4111 extended toward the free end ofsaid clamping arm 41. The clamping panel 411 of the clamping arm 41 hasa curvature matching with a curvature of the heating surface of theheating member to contact with the heating surface of the heating memberso as to minimize a clearance therebetween. It is worth mentioning thatthe lock of hair will be retained between the clamping panel 411 and theheating surface of the heating member 10 in position, wherein the lockof hair will not be locked therebetween. In other words, when the lockof hair will be retained between the clamping panel 411 and the heatingsurface of the heating member 10, the user is able to easily slide thehair curling device of the present invention downwardly along the lockof hair towards the tip/distal end thereof. Therefore, no frictionalelement is provided at either the clamping panel 411 or the heatingsurface of the heating member 10 to lock the hair therebetween.

The slanted guiding edges 4111 of the clamping arm 41 is arranged forshifting the lock of hair to evenly whirl the lock of hair along theheating member 10 so as to prevent the lock of hair repeatedly wound atthe same radial position of the heating member 10. In other words, whenthe clamping arm 41 is rotated about the heating member 10 at onerevolution, a portion of the lock of hair is wound around the heatingmember 10. For the next revolution, the lock of hair is shifted at thelongitudinal direction of the heating member 10 by one of the slantedguiding edges 4111, such that the subsequent wound lock of hair will notbe overlapped with the previous wound lock of hair. It is worthmentioning that when the lock of hair is initially grasped at theheating member 10 close to the extension end thereof, the lock of hairwill be wound around and shifted toward the heating member 10 at the topend thereof.

The clamp unit 40 further comprises a handle holder 43 coupled at thetop end of the heating barrel 11 of the heating member 10 in anon-rotatable manner, wherein the handle holder 43 is fixed with respectto the heating member 10, such that the handle holder 43 will not berotated when the clamping arm 41 is rotated. Accordingly, the handleholder 43 is made of heat insulated material coaxially coupled at thetop end of the heating barrel 11, such that when whirling the lock ofhair, the user is able to hold the handle holder 43 by hand to keep thebalance of the hair curling device. Preferably, a silica gel ring iscoupled between the handle holder 43 and the heating barrel 11 forpreventing the heat from the heating barrel 11 being transferred to thehandle holder 43. It is worth mentioning that the silica gel ring canchange its color in response to the temperature change. In other words,when increasing the temperature at the heating barrel 11, the silica gelring will change its color correspondingly. For example, the silica gelring has a darker color at room temperature and will change to white orlighter color when increasing the temperature. Alternatively, the handleholder 43 can be freely and rotatably coupled at the top end of theheating barrel 11 of the heating member 10, wherein the handle holder 43is free to rotate at 360° with respect to the heating member 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the powering arrangement 30 further comprisesa safety member 34 radially and outwardly extended from the fixationshaft 32 at a position between the rotatable casing 33 and the heatingmember 10 for blocking the lock of hair being whirled at the rotatablecasing 33. The safety member 34 is formed in a ring shape that thesafety member 34 is integrally extended from the fixation shaft 32 at aposition between the extension end of the heating barrel 11 and thepivot end of the clamping arm 41. Therefore, when the lock of hair iswhirled around the heating element 10, the lock of hair is whirled fromthe pivot end of the heating barrel 11 toward the top end of the heatingbarrel 11 where the pivot joint 42 is located. The safety member 34 willblock the lock of hair being whirled and stunk at the pivot joint 42during the rotation of the clamping arm 41. Preferably, the outerdiameter of the safety member 34 matches with the outer diameter of therotatable casing 33 which is larger than the outer diameter of theheating barrel 11. It is worth mentioning that since the safety member34 is radially and outwardly extended from the fixation shaft 32, thesafety member 34 is immovable or non-rotatable when the clamping arm 41is rotated around the heating member 10.

In order to drive the rotatable casing 33 to rotate, the poweringarrangement 30 further comprises a gear assembly 35 operatively linkedbetween the motorized unit 31 and the rotatable casing 33 forcontrollably transmitting the rotational power. The gear assembly 35comprises a ring-shaped gear element 351 operatively coupled at therotatable casing 33 and a concealed gear unit 352 operatively linkedbetween the motorized unit 31 and the gear element 351 for transmittingthe rotational power from the motorized unit 31 to the rotatable casing33.

As shown in FIG. 2, the gear element 351, having the ring shape, definesan outer circumferentially engaging surface operatively coupled with theinner surface of the rotatable casing 33 and an inner circumferentiallyteething surface operatively linked to the concealed gear unit 352 suchthat when the gear element 351 is driven to rotate, the rotatable casing33 is rotated correspondingly. Accordingly, the fixation shaft 32 isextended to pass through the gear element 351 to couple with the handlemember 10.

The concealed gear unit 352 comprises a hollow gearbox 353 rotatably andcoaxially received in the handle member 20, a first gear set 354received in and engaged with the hollow gearbox 353 to operatively linkwith the motorized unit 31, and a second gear set 355 received in andengaged with the hollow gearbox 353 to operatively link with therotatable casing 33.

According to the preferred embodiment, the hollow gearbox 353 has acylindrical shape and defines an inner circumferentially cog surface,wherein the interior space of the hollow gearbox 353 is big enough toreceive the first and second gear sets 354, 355. In particular, thehollow gearbox 353 is arranged to transmit the rotational power from thefirst gear set 354 to the second gear set 355 through the innercircumferentially cog surface.

The first gear set 354 is operatively linked between the output shaft ofthe motorized unit 31 and the inner circumferentially cog surface of thehollow gearbox 353, wherein the first gear set 354 is arranged totransmit the rotational power from the motorized unit 31 to drive thehollow gearbox 353 to rotate within the handle member 20.

The second gear set 355 is operatively linked between the innercircumferentially teething surface of the gear element 351 and the innercircumferentially cog surface of the hollow gearbox 353, wherein thesecond gear set 355 is arranged to transmit the rotational power fromthe hollow gearbox 353 to drive the gear element 351 to rotate aroundthe fixation shaft 32 so as to drive the rotatable casing 33 to rotate.

It is worth mentioning that the hollow gearbox 353 forms a concealedbarrel to receive the first and second gear sets 354, 355, such that thesize of the gear assembly 35 can be substantially minimized and thelubricate within the hollow gearbox 353 can be retained for preventingbeing leaked out of the gear assembly 35.

As shown in FIG. 2, the powering arrangement further comprises a circuitboard 36 supported within a lower portion of the handle member 20,wherein the motorized unit 31 is operatively linked between the gearassembly 35 and the circuit board 36 to form a compact operatingstructure within the handle member 20. The circuit board 36 contains aheat control circuit of the heating member 10 for controlling theheating temperature at the heating surface of the heating member 10 anda motor control circuit of the motorized unit for controlling theoperation of the motorized unit, wherein the heat control circuit andthe motor control circuit are integrated at the circuit board 36 to forman integrated circuit board. Accordingly, the circuit board 36 is anelongated board structure disposed at the lower portion of the handlemember 20, wherein the circuit board 36 has a cable terminal provided atthe bottom end of the handle member 20 to operatively connect with anextension cable and a motorized terminal to operatively link to themotorized unit 31. It is worth mentioning that the configuration of thepowering arrangement 30 can substantially reduce the size of the handlemember 20 to receive the powering arrangement 30 that the circuit board36 is activated to control the operation of the motorized unit 31 andthen to transmit the rotational power to the rotatable casing 33 throughthe gear assembly 35. Therefore, the locations of the circuit board 36,the motorized unit 31, and the gear assembly 35 at the sequent order cansubstantially save the installing space of the powering assembly 30.

The powering assembly 30 further comprises an operating control 37 forcontrolling the operations of the motorized unit 31 and the heatingmember 10. The operating control 37 comprises a plurality of operationalbuttons provided at an outer side of the handle member 10. Accordingly,a heat operation button 371 is provided at the outer side of the handlemember 10 and is operatively linked to the circuit board 36 forswitching the heating member 10 in an on and off manner. In addition,the heat operation button 371 can adjustably control the heatingtemperature of the heating member 10. It is worth mentioning that whenthe heat operation button 371 is pressed, the heating member 10 willgenerate heat at the heating surface thereof. In addition, the heatingtemperature of the heating barrel 11 can be selectively adjusted by theheat operation button 371. When the heating member 10 is switched on bythe depression of the heat operation button 371, the user is able topress on the heat operation button 371 at one side with the “+”indication in order to increase the heating temperature. Likewise, theuser is able to press on the heat operation button 371 at another sidewith the “−” indication in order to reduce the heating temperature.Preferably, the “on” indication and the “+” indication are formed at oneside of the heat operation button 371 while the “off” indication and the“−” indication are formed at another side of the heat operation button371. Once the user presses on the “off” side at the heat operationbutton 371, the heating member 10 will stop generating heat at theheating surface thereof. In other words, the user is able to control theheat operation button 371 to keep and adjust the heat at the heatingsurface of the heating member 10.

A motorized activation button 372 is provided at the outer side of thehandle member 20 and is operatively linked to the circuit board 36 forswitching the motorized unit 31 in an on and off manner. In particular,the motorized activation button 372 has two side portions (left andright portions) that when one side of the motorized activation button372 is pressed, the motorized unit 31 will generate the forwardrotational power and when another side of the motorized activationbutton 372 is pressed, the motorized unit 31 will generate the reverserotational power. It is worth mentioning that once the depression forceat the motorized activation button 372 is released, the motorized unit31 will be deactivated to stop generating the rotational power. In otherwords, the clamping arm 41 will stop rotating when the depression forceat the motorized activation button 372 is released.

The operating control 37 further comprises an operational indicator 373provided at the outer side of the handle member 10 and operativelylinked to the circuit board 36 for indicating the heating member 10 inan on and off manner. Accordingly, the operational indicator 373comprises a light generator operatively linked to the circuit board 36and arranged in such a manner that the operational indicator 373 willgenerate light effect when the heating member 10 in switched on.

Accordingly, through the circuit board 36 and the operating control 37,the heating temperature at the heating surface of the heating member 10is adjustably controlled between 80° C. to 240° C. The revolving speedof the clamping arm 41 is adjustably controlled between 10 and 40 rpm,preferably between 14 and 25 rpm. The rotational speed of the output ofthe motorized unit 31 at an idle state, i.e. only the motorized unit 31itself, is adjustably controlled about 5000±20% rpm. The rotationalspeed of the output of the motorized unit 31 at a loaded state, i.e. thehair being whirled, is adjustably controlled about 1600±20% rpm. Inother words, through the gear assembly 35 to reduce the rotationalspeed, the rotational power from the motorized unit 31 is transmitted tothe rotatable casing 33 to rotate the clamping arm 41 from the output ofthe motorized unit 31 between 1600-5000 rpm to the output of theclamping arm 41 between 10 and 30 rpm. It is worth mentioning that thegear assembly 35 is a four-step transmission unit that the gear ratio ofthe first to third steps is 12/36 and the gear ratio of the fourth stepis 12/42, wherein the total speed reducing ratio is about 94.5:1. Inaddition, the revolving speed of the clamping arm 41 can be adjustablycontrolled by regulating the resistance of the circuit board.Particularly, the revolving speed of the clamping arm 41 is adjustablycontrolled between 15 and 40 rpm by regulating the resistance of thecircuit board.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 8, the present invention further comprises amethod of curling the lock of hair by the hair curling device whichcomprises the following steps.

(1) Retain the lock of hair between the clamping arm 41 and the heatingsurface of the heating member 10. Accordingly, the user is able to applythe pressing force at the clamp button 422, such that the clamp button422 is pivotally depressed via the pivot shaft 421 to pivotally move theclamping arm 41 to the opened position from the closed position. Thelock of hair can be placed between the heating member 10 and theclamping arm 41. Preferably, the lock of hair close to the root thereofis retained between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of theheating member 10. Once the lock of hair is placed, the user is able torelease the pressing force at the clamp button 422, the clamp button 422is pivotally moved back so as to pivotally move the clamping arm 41 backto the closed position from the opened position.

Accordingly, the lock of hair is placed at a predetermined distance froma root end thereof to define a first portion of the hair from the rootend to the heating member 10 and a second portion of the hair to becurled from the heating member 10 to the distal end of the hair. Thefirst portion of the hair can be defined as the upper portion of thehair while the second portion of the hair can be defined as the lowerportion of the hair. The first portion of the hair is the portion thatthe user does not want to curl. The second portion of the hair is theportion to be curled.

It is worth mentioning that the lock of hair at a predetermined distancefrom the root end thereof for start curling is placed on the heatingsurface of the heating member 10. For example, when the user wants tocurl the entire lock of hair, the root end of the lock of hair should beplaced and retained between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surfaceof the heating member 10. If the user wants to curl the lower half ofthe lock of hair, the middle of the lock of hair should be placed andretained between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of theheating member 10.

(2) Activate the motorized unit 31 of the powering arrangement 30 todrive the clamping arm 41 to rotate around the axis of the heatingmember 10 for guiding the lock of hair being whirled around the heatingmember 10. Accordingly, when the clamping arm 41 is rotated, the lock ofhair is whirled from the root of the hair to the tip thereof. During thewhirling movement, the safety member 34 will block the lock of hairbeing whirled and stunk at the pivot joint 42. Therefore, the lock ofhair can be smoothly whirled around the heating member 10.

In particular, after the lock of hair is retained between the clampingarm 41 and the heating surface of the heating member 10, preferablybeing retained at the middle of the heating barrel 11 or close to theextension end thereof, the user is able to activate the motorized unit31 by pressing the motorized activation button 372 by the thumb of theholding hand. Once the clamping arm 41 is started to rotate, thestarting portion of the lock of hair is pushed by the clamping arm 41and whirled around the heating barrel 11, as shown in FIG. 4. When theclamping arm 41 is kept rotating, the lock of hair is continuouslyguided and pushed to whirl around the heating barrel 11. At the sametime, a portion of the lock of hair will be continuously retainedbetween the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heatingmember 10. FIG. 4 also illustrates the mid-portion of the lock of hairbeing retained between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface ofthe heating member 10 while the starting portion of the lock of hair iswhirled around the heating barrel 11 and the clamping arm 41. Theclamping arm 41 is kept rotating until the tip/distal portion of thelock of hair is retained between the clamping arm 41 and the heatingsurface of the heating member 10, such that the lock of hair, from thestarting portion to the tip/distal portion, will be whirled around theheating barrel 11. It is worth mentioning that the safety member 34 willblock the tip/distal portion of the lock of hair being whirled and stunkat the pivot joint 42.

In addition, the user is able to select which rotational direction ofthe clamping arm 41 being rotated. By pressing one side of the motorizedactivation button 372, such as the left portion thereof, the motorizedunit 31 will generate the forward rotational power. By pressing anotherside of the motorized activation button 372, such as the right portionthereof, the motorized unit 31 will generate the reverse rotationalpower. Once the lock of hair is whirled, the user is able to stop therotational movement of the clamping arm 41 by releasing the pressingforce at the motorized activation button 372. When whirling the lock ofhair, the user is able to hold the handle holder 43 by hand to keep thebalance of the hair curling device. Accordingly, since the clamping arm41 is powered by motorized unit 31 to rotate at a constant speed in acontrollable manner, the tightness of the hairs at the heating barrel 11and the curliness of the hairs will be easily controlled by the user.

(3) Generate heat at the heating surface of the heating member 10 forcurling the lock of hair. After the lock of hair is whirled, the user isable to press the heat operation button 371, such that the heatingmember 10 will generate heat at the heating surface thereof. It is worthmentioning that the curvature of the hair can be selectively controlledby the heating time and heating temperature of the heating element 10.The user is able to prolong the heating time by the actuation of theheat operation button 371 that when the heat operation button 371 ispressed (the “on” indication), the heating element 10 will generate heatuntil the heat operation button 371 is pressed again (the “off”indication). The user is also able to adjust the heating temperature ofthe heating element through the heat operation button 371. Once thepressing force at the heat operation button 371 is applied, the heatingmember 10 will stop generating heat at the heating surface thereof.

(4) Once the lock of hair, i.e. the second portion thereof is curled,activate the motorized unit 31 of the powering arrangement 30 to drivethe clamping arm 41 to rotate. The lock of hair will be automaticallyreleased from the clamping arm 41 and the heating element 10. It isworth mentioning that when the lock of hair is whirled around theheating barrel 11, only the tip/distal portion of the lock of hair isretained between the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of theheating member 10 at a position close to the top end thereof. Therefore,when the motorized unit 31 is kept activating to drive the clamping arm41 to rotate about the heating barrel 11, the tip/distal portion of thelock of hair will be released from the engagement between the clampingarm 41 and the heating surface of the heating member 10. Likewise, theuser is also able to release the lock of hair from the clamping arm 41by pressing the clamp button 422 to pivotally move the clamping arm 41to the opened position from the closed position.

As shown in FIG. 9, the lock of hair is initially grasped between theheating surface of the heating barrel 11 and the clamping arm 41 todefine an initial/first section of the second portion of the hair. Then,when the clamping arm 41 is started to rotate around, the second portionof hair will be wound around the heating barrel 11. In particular, afterone revolution of the clamping arm 41 around the heating barrel 11, theinitial/first section of the hair will be guided to wind around theouter side of the clamping arm 41 while the second section of the hairwill be whirled between the heating surface of the heating barrel 11 andthe clamping arm 41. As a result, the second portion of the hair canstill be held by the engagement between the clamping arm 41 and theheating surface of the heating member 10. Likewise, after the secondrevolution of the clamping arm 41 around the heating barrel 11, theinitial and second sections of the hair will be guided to wind aroundthe outer side of the clamping arm 41 while the third section of thehair will be whirled between the heating surface of the heating barrel11 and the clamping arm 41. After the several revolutions of theclamping arm 41 around the heating barrel 11, the second portion of thehair will be guided to wind around the outer side of the clamping arm 41while only the distal section of the hair will be held between theheating surface of the heating barrel 11 and the clamping arm 41.Therefore, when the clamping arm 41 is kept rotating about the heatingbarrel 11, the distal section of the second portion of the hair will beguided to the outer side of the clamping arm 41 so as to release thesecond portion of the hair from the engagement between the clamping arm41 and the heating surface of the heating member 10. It is worthmentioning that the initial section, the second section, . . . thedistal section of the second portion of the hair will not be overlappedwith each other or repeatedly wound at the same radial position of theheating barrel 11 because the second portion of hair is shifted at thelongitudinal direction of the heating member 10 by one of the slantedguiding edges 4111.

It is worth mentioning that the user is able to hold the handle member20 by the holding hand and operate the hair curling device by the thumb.In other words, the user can securely hold the handle member 20 with thepalm and four fingers. The operation of the hair curling device can beoperated by the depression of the operating control 37 via the thumb ofthe user.

More importantly, the heating element 10 is remained at the sameposition to retain the same length of the first portion of hair whilewhirling the second portion of hair around the heating surface of theheating element 10. As shown in FIG. 8, when the lock of hair isinitially grasped between the heating surface of the heating barrel 11and the clamping arm 41, the user will maintain the position of theheating element 10 to whirl the second portion of hair. In other words,the heating element 10 will always keep the same safety distance awayfrom the head skin of the user. Comparing with the conventional hairsetter, the lock of hair is whirled around the heating barrel of theconventional hair setter so as to pull the heating barrel thereof towardthe head skin of the user. Therefore, it is difficult and unsafe for theuser to determine what position of the hair setter should be stoppedwithout burning the head skin of the user. Therefore, once the lock ofhair is initially grasped between the heating barrel 11 and the clampingarm 41 to keep the safety distance from the head skin of the user, theheating barrel 11 will not be moved thereto during whirling the secondportion of the hair. In other words, the safety distance will always bemaintained during the operation of the present invention.

The user is able to selectively control different curling styles of thehair by holding the present invention at different positions. Forcurling the hair at the inward curling style, as shown in FIG. 8, theuser is able to retain the lock of hair between the heating surface ofthe heating barrel 11 and the clamping arm 41 at a position that theclamping arm 41 faces outward from the head of the user. The rotationaldirection of the clamping arm 41 is configured toward the distal end ofthe hair. For curling the hair at the outward curling style, as shown inFIG. 10, the user is able to retain the lock of hair between the heatingsurface of the heating barrel 11 and the clamping arm 41 at a positionthat the clamping arm 41 faces toward the head of the user. Therotational direction of the clamping arm 41 is configured toward thedistal end of the hair.

Accordingly, the user is also able to switch on the heating member 10 togenerate heat at the heating surface of the heating member 10 beforecurling the hair around the heating member 10. Once the heating surfaceof the heating member 10 is heated up at a predetermined heatingtemperature, the lock of hair can be retained between the clamping arm41 and the heating surface of the heating member 10. Then, the motorizedunit 31 of the powering arrangement 30 can be activated to drive theclamping arm 41 to rotate around the axis of the heating member 10 forguiding the lock of hair being whirled around the heating member 10.During the whirling of the lock of hair, the heating member 10 will keepapplying the heat to the lock of hair in order to curl the lock of hair.Once the tip/distal portion of the lock of hair is retained between theclamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heating member 10, i.e.the lock of hair is whirled around the heating member 10, the lock ofhair is already curled. Therefore, when the clamping arm 41 is keptrotating, the engagement at the tip/distal portion of the lock of hairbetween the clamping arm 41 and the heating surface of the heatingmember 10 will be released so as to automatically release the lock ofhair from the hair curling device of the present invention. In otherwords, the rotatable casing 33 is continuously rotating at the samedirection to drive the clamping arm 41 to rotate 360° about the heatingelement 10 until the lock of hair is released between the clamping arm41 and the heating element 10.

It is worth mentioning that the rotational speed of the clamping arm 41is controlled to adjust the heating time of the lock of hair from thestarting portion of the lock of hair to the tip/distal portion thereof.When the rotational speed of the clamping arm 41 is reduced, the heatingtime will be prolonged. Likewise, when the rotational speed of theclamping arm 41 is increased, the heating time will be reduced. In otherwords, once the tip/distal portion of the lock of hair is released fromthe clamping arm 41, the lock of hair is curled. It is worth mentioningthat the rotational speed of the clamping arm 41 and the heatingtemperature can be adjustably controlled by the user to control thecurliness of the hair. It is worth mentioning that a constant rotationspeed of the rotatable casing 33 is generated to drive the clamping arm41 to rotate 360° about the heating element 10.

According to the preferred embodiment, the present invention furthercomprises an operational process of the hair curling device, comprisingthe following steps.

(1) Rotatably couple the rotatable casing 33 between the heating member10 and a handle member 20. The step (1) further comprises the steps of:

(1.1) coupling the fixation shaft 32 between the handle member 20 to theheating member 10; and

(1.2) rotatably and coaxially coupling the rotatable casing 33 at thefixation shaft 32.

(2) Pivotally couple the clamping arm 41 at the rotatable casing 33 toenable the clamping arm 41 to move between the opened position and theclosed position.

(3) Drive the rotatable casing 33 to rotate by the motorized unit 31 bythe following steps.

(3.1) Generate a rotational power from the motorized unit 31. Inparticular, the motorized unit 31 is selectively controlled to generatethe rotational power at one of a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise, such that the rotational power is a reversible rotationalpower.

(3.2) Controllably transmit the rotation power to the rotatable casing33 via the gear assembly 35 to obtain a constant rotational speed of therotatable casing 33. The step (3.2) further comprises the followingsteps.

(3.2.1) Operatively couple the ring-shaped gear element 351 at therotatable casing 33.

(3.2.2) Operatively link the concealed gear unit 352 between themotorized unit 31 and the gear element 351 for transmitting therotational power from the motorized unit 31 to the rotatable casing 33,wherein the step (3.2.2) further comprises the following steps.

(3.2.2.1) Rotatably and coaxially receive the hollow gearbox 353 of theconcealed gear unit 352 in said handle member;

(3.2.2.2) Receive the first gear set 354 of the concealed gear unit 352in the hollow gearbox 353 that the first gear set 354 is engaged withthe hollow gearbox 353 in order to operatively link the first gear set354 with the motorized unit 31;

(3.2.2.3) Receive the second gear set 355 of the concealed gear unit 352in the hollow gearbox 353 that the second gear set 355 is engaged withthe hollow gearbox 353 in order to operatively link the second gear set355 with the rotatable casing 33; and

(3.2.2.4) Transmit the rotational power from the motorized unit 31 tothe first gear set 354 to drive the second gear set 355 to rotatethrough the hollow gearbox 353 so as to drive the rotatable casing 33 torotate through the ring-shaped gear element 351.

Referring to FIG. 18 of the drawings, a hair curling device according toa second preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated as analternative mode of the first embodiment, wherein the hair curlingdevice comprises a handle member 6, a heating member 10, and a connector1 connecting the handle member 6 with the heating member 10 via one ormore screws to form an elongated structure. In particular, one end ofthe connector 1 is coaxially inserted into the heating member 10 and anopposed end of the connector 1 is coaxially inserted into the handlemember 6. The hair curling device further comprises a rotatable hub unitwhich comprises an upper rotatable hub body 5 and a lower rotatable hubbody 6, wherein the upper and lower rotatable hub bodies 5, 6 arecoupled at the upper and lower portions of the connector 1 to enclosethe connector 1. A rotatable clamping arm 9, which is rotatable aboutthe heating member 10, is coupled at an outer surface of the upperrotatable hub body 5 via a button cap 7 and an operation button 8 toretain clamping arm 9 along the heating member 10. A lock 2 is securelycoupled at an outer surface of the lower rotatable hub body 6 via a lockcap 3. According to the preferred embodiment, the connector 1 is made ofplastic such as PPS. The upper rotatable hub body 5, the lower rotatablehub body 6, the button cap 7, and the operation button 8 are made ofnylon with 30% of fiberglass. Therefore, the heat generated at theheating member 10 will not be transmitted to the handle member 6. Thestructural configuration of the clamping arm can be rotated about theheating member for guiding and combing the lock of hair being whirledaround the heating member neatly.

Referring to FIG. 27 of the drawings, a hair curling device of a thirdembodiment illustrates an alternative mode of the second embodiment,wherein the hair curling device of the second embodiment has the samestructural configuration except it is powered to automatically driventhe clamping arm to rotate. According to the second embodiment, the haircurling device comprises a handle member 7, a heating member 1, and aconnector 5 connecting the handle member 7 with the heating member 1. Asshown in FIG. 27, the hair curling device further comprises a poweroperating arrangement which comprises a two-directional-controloperation button 6 (L-R) provided on the outer surface of the handlemember 7, an electric motor 3, such as a micro electric motor, supportedin the handle member 7 and activated by the operation button 6, a gearassembly 2 coupled with the electric motor 3, and a rotatable hub unit 5driven to rotate by the electric motor 3 via the gear assembly 2. Theclamping arm is coupled at the rotatable hub unit 5 such that when theoperation button 6 is depressed at one side (L), the rotatable hub unit5 is driven to rotate clockwise so as to rotate the clamping arm aroundthe heating member 1 at the clockwise direction, and when the operationbutton 6 is depressed at an opposed side (R), the rotatable hub unit 5is driven to rotate counter clockwise so as to rotate the clamping armaround the heating member 1 at the counter clockwise direction.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of thepresent invention as shown in the drawings and described above isexemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have beenfully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown anddescribed for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structuralprinciples of the present invention and is subject to change withoutdeparture from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes allmodifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair curling device, comprising: an elongated heating member defining an outer heating surface; a handle member coaxially extended from said heating member; a rotatable casing rotatably and coaxially coupled between said heating member and said handle member; and a clamp unit which comprises a clamping arm pivotally coupled at said rotatable casing and a clamp button provided at said rotatable casing, wherein said clamp button has a top flat depression surface arranged in such a manner that when said flat depression surface is pressed, said clamping arm is pivotally moved from a closed position that said clamping arm is in contact with said heating surface of said heating member to an opened position that said clamping arm is tilted from said heating member, wherein said clamping arm is driven to rotate around an axis of said heating member, such that after said clamping arm is moved at said closed position for retaining a lock of hair between said clamping arm and said heating surface of said heating member, said clamping arm is rotated for guiding the lock of hair being whirled around said heating member.
 2. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said clamp unit further has a button cavity indently provided at said rotatable casing to support said clamp button being aligned with said axis of said heating member, and comprises a resilient element supported at said button cavity for applying an urging spring force against said clamp button so as to retain said clamping arm at the closed position.
 3. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said clamp button comprises a pivot shaft coupled at two sidewalls of said button cavity to define a front button portion coupled with a rear end of said clamping arm and a rear button portion being biased against said resilient element, such that when said rear button portion of said clamp button is depressed, said front button portion thereof is pivotally lifted up to move said clamping arm from said closed position to said opened position.
 4. The hair curling device, as recited claim 3, wherein said clamping arm comprises an elongated clamping panel contacting with said heating surface of said heating member and a connecting arm rearwardly and parallelly extended from an upper side of said clamping panel to couple with said front button portion of said clamp button.
 5. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a fixation shaft extended from said handle member to said heating member, wherein said rotatable casing is rotatably and coaxially coupled at said fixation shaft.
 6. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 4, further comprising a fixation shaft extended from said handle member to said heating member, wherein said rotatable casing is rotatably and coaxially coupled at said fixation shaft.
 7. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 1, which comprises an operational process comprising the steps of: (a) rotatably coupling said rotatable casing between said heating member and a handle member; (b) pivotally coupling said clamping arm at said rotatable casing to enable said clamping arm to move between said opened position and said closed position; (c) driving said rotatable casing to rotate by a motorized unit by the steps of: (c.1) generating a rotational power from said motorized unit; and (c.2) controllably transmitting said rotation power to said rotatable casing via a gear assembly to obtain a constant rotational speed of said rotatable casing; and (d) moving said clamping arm around said heating member when said rotatable casing is rotated.
 8. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 1, comprising a method of operating the hair curling device which comprises the steps of: (a) pivotally moving said clamping arm from said closed position to said opened position that said clamping arm is tilted from said heating member; (b) placing the lock of hair at a predetermined distance from a root end thereof for start curling on said heating surface of said heating member, so as to define a first portion of the hair from the root end to the heating member and a second portion of the hair to be curled from the heating member to a distal end of the hair; (c) retaining the lock of hair between said clamping arm and said heating surface of said heating member when said clamping arm is moved back to said closed position; (d) selectively controlling a rotational direction of said rotatable casing to drive said clamping arm to rotate 360° about said heating element; (e) whirling the second portion of hair around said heating surface of said heating element toward the distal end of the lock of hair when said clamping arm is rotated about said heating element; and (f) generating heat at said heating surface of said heating element to curl the second portion of hair around said heating element.
 9. A hair curling device, comprising: an elongated heating member defining an outer heating surface; a handle member coaxially extended from said heating member; a rotatable casing rotatably and coaxially coupled between said heating member and said handle member; and a clamp unit which comprises a clamping arm which is extended from said rotatable casing and is pivotally moved between an opened position that said clamping arm is tilted from said heating member and a closed position that said clamping arm is in contact with said heating surface of said heating member, wherein said clamping arm has a tapered shape defining two slanted guiding edges extended toward a free end of said clamping arm, wherein said clamping arm is driven to rotate around an axis of said heating member, such that after said clamping arm is moved at said closed position for retaining a lock of hair between said clamping arm and said heating surface of said heating member, said clamping arm is rotated around said heating member at a position that one of said slanted guiding edges thereof is arranged for guiding the lock of hair being whirled along said heating surface of said heating member in order to evenly apply heat to the lock of hair.
 10. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 9, wherein said clamping arm has a curvature matching with a curvature of said heating surface of said heating member to contact with said heating surface of said heating member so as to minimize a clearance therebetween.
 11. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 9, further comprising a fixation shaft extended from said handle member to said heating member, wherein said rotatable casing is rotatably and coaxially coupled at said fixation shaft.
 12. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 10, further comprising a fixation shaft extended from said handle member to said heating member, wherein said rotatable casing is rotatably and coaxially coupled at said fixation shaft.
 13. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 9, which comprises an operational process comprising the steps of: (a) rotatably coupling said rotatable casing between said heating member and a handle member; (b) pivotally coupling said clamping arm at said rotatable casing to enable said clamping arm to move between said opened position and said closed position; (c) driving said rotatable casing to rotate by a motorized unit by the steps of: (c.1) generating a rotational power from said motorized unit; and (c.2) controllably transmitting said rotation power to said rotatable casing via a gear assembly to obtain a constant rotational speed of said rotatable casing; and (d) moving said clamping arm around said heating member when said rotatable casing is rotated.
 14. The hair curling device, as recited in claim 9, comprising a method of operating the hair curling device which comprises the steps of: (a) pivotally moving said clamping arm from said closed position to said opened position that said clamping arm is tilted from said heating member, (b) placing the lock of hair at a predetermined distance from a root end thereof for start curling on said heating surface of said heating member, so as to define a first portion of the hair from the root end to the heating member and a second portion of the hair to be curled from the heating member to a distal end of the hair; (c) retaining the lock of hair between said clamping arm and said heating surface of said heating member when said clamping arm is moved back to said closed position; (d) selectively controlling a rotational direction of said rotatable casing to drive said clamping arm to rotate 360° about said heating element; (e) whirling the second portion of hair around said heating surface of said heating element toward the distal end of the lock of hair when said clamping arm is rotated about said heating element; and (f) generating heat at said heating surface of said heating element to curl the second portion of hair around said heating element.
 15. A process of curling hair with a hair curling device, comprising the steps of: (a) rotatably coupling a rotatable casing between a heating member and a handle member; (b) pivotally coupling a clamping arm at said rotatable casing to enable said clamping arm to move between an opened position that said clamping arm is tilted from said heating member and a closed position that said clamping arm is in contact with a heating surface of said heating member; (c) driving said rotatable casing to rotate by a motorized unit by the steps of: (c.1) generating a rotational power from said motorized unit; and (c.2) controllably transmitting said rotation power to said rotatable casing via a gear assembly to obtain a constant rotational speed of said rotatable casing; and (d) moving said clamping arm around said heating member when said rotatable casing is rotated.
 16. The process, as recited in claim 15, wherein the step (a) further comprises the steps of: (a.1) coupling a fixation shaft between said handle member to said heating member; and (a.2) rotatably and coaxially coupling said rotatable casing at said fixation shaft.
 17. The process, as recited in claim 16, wherein the step (c.2) further comprises the steps of: (c.2.1) operatively coupling a ring-shaped gear element at said rotatable casing; and (c.2.2) operatively linking a concealed gear unit between said motorized unit and said gear element for transmitting said rotational power from said motorized unit to said rotatable casing.
 18. The process, as recited in claim 17, wherein the step (c.2.2) further comprises the steps of: (c.2.2.1) rotatably and coaxially receiving a hollow gearbox of said concealed gear unit in said handle member; (c.2.2.2) receiving a first gear set of said concealed gear unit in said hollow gearbox that said first gear set is engaged with said hollow gearbox in order to operatively link said first gear set with said motorized unit; (c.2.2.3) receiving a second gear set of said concealed gear unit in said hollow gearbox that said second gear set is engaged with said hollow gearbox in order to operatively link said second gear set with said rotatable casing; and (c.2.2.4) transmitting said rotational power from said motorized unit to said first gear set to drive said second gear set to rotate through said hollow gearbox so as to drive said rotatable casing to rotate through said ring-shaped gear element.
 19. The process, as recited in claim 15, wherein the step (c.1) further comprises a step of selectively controlling said motorized unit to generate said rotational power at one of a clockwise direction and a counter clockwise, such that said rotational power is a reversible rotational power.
 20. The process, as recited in claim 18, wherein the step (c.1) further comprises a step of selectively controlling said motorized unit to generate said rotational power at one of a clockwise direction and a counter clockwise, such that said rotational power is a reversible rotational power.
 21. The process, as recited in claim 15, further comprising a step of supporting a circuit board within a lower portion of said handle member at a position that said motorized unit is operatively linked between said gear assembly and said circuit board to form a compact operating structure within said handle member.
 22. The process, as recited in claim 20, further comprising a step of supporting a circuit board within a lower portion of said handle member at a position that said motorized unit is operatively linked between said gear assembly and said circuit board to form a compact operating structure within said handle member.
 23. A method of curling hair with a hair curling device which comprises an elongated heating member, a handle member, a rotatable casing rotatably and coaxially coupled between said heating member and said handle member, and a clamping arm pivotally coupled at said rotatable casing, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) pivotally moving said clamping arm from a closed position that said clamping arm is in contact with a heating surface of said heating member to an opened position that said clamping arm is tilted from said heating member; (b) placing a lock of hair at a predetermined distance from a root end thereof for start curling on a heating surface of said heating member, so as to define a first portion of the hair from the root end to said heating member and a second portion of the hair to be curled from said heating member to a distal end of the hair; (c) retaining the lock of hair between said clamping arm and said heating surface of said heating member when said clamping arm is moved back to said closed position; (d) selectively controlling a rotational direction of said rotatable casing to drive said clamping arm to rotate 360° about said heating element; (e) whirling the second portion of hair around said heating surface of said heating element toward the distal end of the lock of hair when said clamping arm is rotated about said heating element; and (f) generating heat at said heating surface of said heating element to curl the second portion of hair around said heating element.
 24. The method, as recited in claim 23, further comprising a step of continuously rotating said rotatable casing at the same direction to drive said clamping arm to rotate 360° about said heating element until the lock of hair is released between said clamping arm and said heating element.
 25. The method, as recited in claim 23, wherein the step (e) further comprises a step of shifting the lock of hair by said clamping arm, having a tapered shape, to evenly whirl the lock of hair along said heating element so as to prevent the lock of hair repeatedly wound at the same radial position of said heating element.
 26. The method, as recited in claim 24, wherein the step (e) further comprises a step of shifting the lock of hair by said clamping arm, having a tapered shape, to evenly whirl the lock of hair along said heating element so as to prevent the lock of hair repeatedly wound at the same radial position of said heating element.
 27. The method, as recited in claim 23, wherein the step (d) further comprises a step of generating a constant rotation speed of said rotatable casing to drive said clamping arm to rotate 360° about said heating element.
 28. The method, as recited in claim 26, wherein the step (d) further comprises a step of generating a constant rotation speed of said rotatable casing to drive said clamping arm to rotate 360° about said heating element.
 29. The method, as recited in claim 23, wherein, in the step (e), said heating element is remained at the same position to retain the same length of the first portion of hair while whirling the second portion of hair around said heating surface of said heating element.
 30. The method, as recited in claim 28, wherein, in the step (e), said heating element is remained at the same position to retain the same length of the first portion of hair while whirling the second portion of hair around said heating surface of said heating element. 